Tensions flared at TD Garden in Boston on Sunday as some fans in attendance booed the Canadian national anthem ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off game between Canada and Finland.

A mixture of cheering and boo’ing for the Canadian national anthem in Boston ahead of Canada vs Finland at the #4Nations pic.twitter.com/yVXWLrjiA9

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 17, 2025

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The reaction came just days after Canadian fans in Montreal were heard booing the U.S. national anthem during a matchup between the two rival teams.

The previous meeting between Team USA and Canada was already a heated contest, featuring three fights in the first nine seconds and a 3-1 victory for the Americans.

The hostility on the ice mirrored the intensity in the stands, as fans on both sides responded to the brewing rivalry.

Adding to the tensions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weighed in on the situation after the initial anthem booing in Montreal, stating that he was “damn proud of this country.”

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Meanwhile, relations between the two nations have also been impacted by political disputes, including President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, which were later paused.

Trump also recently teased the idea of Canada becoming the “51st state,” a comment that sparked reactions across the border.

Jeers have continued in NHL games since the political tensions escalated, with the U.S. national anthem receiving boos on multiple occasions.

While some Canadian players, including Drew Doughty, have spoken against fans booing during national anthems, U.S. defenseman Zach Werenski made it clear that Team USA took note of the reaction.

“We knew it was going to happen,” Werenski said. “It happened the last game, it’s been happening in the NHL before this, and we knew tonight was going to be the same way. We obviously don’t like it.”

The U.S. team had already faced a hostile crowd earlier in the tournament when they played Finland, enduring boos before cruising to a dominant 6-1 win.

“It is what it is,” Werenski added. “We kind of had an idea. We used it as motivation the best we could and found a way to get a win. But we had an idea going into it, so it wasn’t a surprise. Definitely don’t like it, though.”

The animosity between Canada and the U.S. was on full display when the teams faced off, with gloves dropping immediately after the puck was dropped.

Canada boos the US anthem.

Three fights in first nine seconds.

Massive hits.

pic.twitter.com/rSqIOBf0o4

— Will Cain (@willcain) February 16, 2025

Matthew Tkachuk squared off with Brandon Hagel, followed just two seconds later by his brother, Brady Tkachuk, fighting Sam Bennett, his NHL teammate on the Florida Panthers.

Another fight broke out in the Canadian zone between J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko, setting the tone for an intense contest.

Despite Canada scoring first with a goal from star forward Connor McDavid, Team USA responded with three unanswered goals to secure the 3-1 win.

With the victory, the U.S. clinched a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game.

Canada’s victory over Finland on Sunday set up a highly anticipated rematch between the two rivals for the 4 Nations Face-Off title.

The championship game will take place Thursday night at TD Garden, where tensions are expected to be just as high.

Whether the rematch will bring more booing, more fights, or simply another hard-fought battle remains to be seen, but the stage is set for another intense clash between these hockey powerhouses.

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